Which is really pretty abysmal. All I can say is that I worked a lot this year. I had 2 shortstories published. I finished writing 2 novels. I read a couple unpublished novels that didn't make this list. And it took me more than 2 months each to wade through The Dancing Wu Li Masters and Partner to the Poor. Theoretically, I could review another Rosemary Wells book right now, but I'd have to get out of bed to find it, so the count stands at 104. Disregarding the kids' books, I scarcely averaged 1 serious book a week.

Two of my mentors, Jaimy Gordon and Bonnie Jo Campbell also made the list this year (both with award-winning novels) as did my darling friend, KJ Kabza, with his collection of previously published short speculative fiction. Wow, I know a lot of writers.

Oh! While I'm name-dropping, I also visually interpreted a poem from one of Ofelia Zepeda's books for the kids at the elementary school where I'm a literacy volunteer, and my fiance emailed Ofelia Zepeda a photograph of the bulletin board (they're both employed at the University of Arizona) and she wrote back, telling him to thank me, and that it was beautiful. And Tom Angleberger also emailed, thanking me for my review of Origami Yoda on another site, saying that I was pretty much the only reviewer to get his book, and I interviewed him. I should publish that interview....

Also this year, my local library system purchased 2 books that I suggested! Partner to the Poor was one. I'm still waiting for the second (about octopus intelligence) but they've cataloged it, so I'm guessing it will be available pretty soon. And, if you didn't catch it above, I'm engaged, so look out for my upcoming review of Miss Manners' Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding. Anyone who knows me will be surprised that there's any element of dignity to my wedding.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

First line: Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies, with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer's wife.

Why you should read this book: This classic tale of whimsy and travel through a far-flung terrain where animals may be friends and plants can be enemies has been beloved by children and adults for over a century, told and retold in many different forms. Dorothy, the kind-hearted heroine, her little dog, Toto, and her new friends the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Lion walk clear across the land of Oz in their quest to send Dorothy back to Kansas after a cyclone carries her to this strange country. Highly recommended for any age, brimming with charm, delightful imagery, and abundant imagination.

First line: Hamelin Town's in Brunswick, By famous Hanover City; The river Weser, deep and wide, Washes its wall on the southern side; A pleasanter spot you never spied, But, when begins my ditty, Almost five hundred years ago, To see the townsfolk suffer so From vermin was a pity.

Why you should read this book: I'm looking at the classic text, illustrated by Kate Greenaway's classic drawings, both of which evoke the gentle romanticism of the nineteenth century, when tales of lost children and other such horrible events could be sighed over from a distance of time. In some places, the language and meter may trip up modern young readers, but overall, it's a document that has truly stood the test of time and deserves its many reprints. Whether read as a cautionary tale, a historical document, or a fairy lark, it's an evocative story about a strange man who enters into a good faith business contract, fulfills his end of the bargain but finds his partners renege on remuneration, and takes his revenge with style.

Why you should read this book: This simple retelling of an old legend recounts a time of drought, when many people have died, and the Comanche people are praying for rain. Upon learning that the gods feel people have become too selfish and require a sacrifice of each individual's most valuable possession, the adults equivocate and rationalize to avoid giving up their favorite things, but a little orphan girl who owns nothing besides a doll given to her by her dead parents understands the true meaning of sacrifice and saves her people. To symbolize their acceptance of her gift, the gods send the bluebonnet, or wild lupine, to indicate their pleasure, and bring back the rains.

Why you shouldn't read this book: Not comfortable with other people's polytheistic traditions.

First line: Lola and her family live in a small apartment in a building called The Park.

Why you should read this book: A touching story about perseverance and dance, this is the story of little Lola, who feels inferior in every way to her big sister Clementina, even though Clementina promises Lola will be just as pretty, and talented, and popular when she's bigger. After stumbling upon a pair of interested shoes in her mother's closet and learned that Mami used to dance flamenco, but no longer does (this issue is not addressed, but adult readers may suspect it is related to Lola's grandmother's death) Lola badgers her father into teaching her this dance. With constant practice, lots of duende (spirit) and a thoughtful gift from Papi, Lola is able to entertain guests at Mami's birthday party and inspire Mami to dance again.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You live in an apartment beneath a rowdy, floor-stomping family.

Why you should read this book: This is a kind-hearted and sympathetically written work for small children struggling with the aftermath of a loved ones incarceration, although the subject matter seems to be of interest to most young children, even if their parents are not prisoners. Sketch, a sad-eyed rabbit child, witnesses his father's arrest; deals with social services, cruel schoolmates, and volatile anger; visits his father in jail and in prison; and eventually, with much support, learns to adapt to a life where he can cope with his father's mistakes and absence. This book includes informative sidebars and an appendix with a glossary, a list of books and website for more information, and an index.

First line: A mile above Oz, the Witch balanced on the wind's forward edge, as it she were a green fleck of the land itself, flung up and sent wheeling away by the turbulent air.

Why you should read this book: I know I'm pretty late to the party, but I really adored this intense, imaginative work, which paints a full picture of the life of the so-called Wicked Witch of the West, who, in other works, tormented Dorothy during her journey through Oz. Glinda (bubble-headed and class-conscious, but essentially kind-hearted), the Wizard (cruel, calculating, amoral, and self-serving), and even the Wicked Witch of the East (crippled and full of pious self-righteousness) are given detailed treatments and complex personalities, but it is Elphaba, the green-skinned Animal-rights activist and lifelong outsider who becomes the most sympathetic protagonist. Civil rights, political machinations, religious argument, and, above all, a running discussion on the nature of good and evil are among the thought-provoking terrain covered in this ground-breaking fantasy novel.

Why you shouldn't read this book: For you, it was all about Judy Garland and those ruby slippers.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Why you should read this book: The celebrated picture book The Mysteries of Harris Burdick offers up fourteen deliciously bizarre drawings, each accompanied by a tantalizing title and caption, with no other indication as to what the heck is going on in the magical and speculative illustration. After twenty-five years, this volume clears up the confusion with fourteen unique stories written by accomplished authors such as Sherman Alexie, Gregory Maguire, Linda Sue Park, and Jules Feiffer. For fans of the original picture book, the contributing authors, or surrealism and fantasy in general, this beautiful volume offers a perfect escape from the mundane world.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

First line: Ninety-three years old. The last leg of my
journey. The end is in sight.

Why you should read this book: More of a small pamphlet,
these are the thoughts of a veteran of the French Resistance who survived World
War II and helped draft the U.N.’s Universal Declaration on Human Rights. With
the perspective of years, he explains why the gap between rich and poor is
unconscionable, how indifference is the most dangerous attitude, and why
peaceful insurrection is required to fulfill the promise of human rights. Mass
media, mass consumption, relentless competition, and an overall lack of
respect, he argues, feed the injustices of our world, and must be resisted.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You refuse to compromise your support for aggression on either side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Why you should read this book: As far as weird parents go,
the parents in this book are mostly guilty of overexuberance and really
atrocious taste in clothing. In fact, even the mortified child can admit that
the ice cream, comic book, and Parcheesi part of the routine is pretty good. In
the end, he concludes that his parents are good enough for him.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You’ve never been
mortified by a family member's behavior.

Why you should read this book: A beautiful reference book
for little kids, young readers, and curious adults, this book breaks the animal
kingdom down into five parts and then divides each category up into manageable
two-page spreads with quizzes and “links” to related sections in the book. Like
all DK books, the draw here is the remarkable, full-color photographs, making
this book perfect for perusal by pre-readers. A lovely and kid-friendly
reference work perfect to be cherished for many years by any animal lover.

Who is this Dragon character, anyway?

I am a professional writer/starving artist. I read consummately and indiscriminately. I read books to kids in elementary school. I read books for research. I read books to expand my horizons. I reread books I enjoyed as a kid. And, like a mountain climber, sometimes I just read a book because it's there. Feel free to contact me with offers of paying work as a writer, editor, or tutor as well as questions about literature, education, and writing.

FAQs

The intention was to create a record of every book that I read. I wish I'd had the idea about twenty-five years ago, but better late than never.

What's the deal with all those Amazon links?

Dragon's Library is a real, live Amazon affiliate site. Go ahead! Click those links. You can buy any book on this site (heck, you can buy any book in the world) directly from a trusted source. [Disclosure: I get 4% of the sales. Please buy a book and help support a struggling artist.]

How do you choose books?

Years of reading to elementary kids has given me a good sense of what kids respond to. I only review children's books if both my students and I enjoyed them. Otherwise, I favor speculative fiction, classic literature, and non-fiction books about science. However, I have been known to read just about anything.

Will you review my book (or a book I like, or a book I am publicizing)?

Yes. Yes, I will. I will review pretty much anything you send me, provided it does not suck. I do not review books I don't enjoy. If I like it well enough to finish it, it will appear on this site. Email me for further details.

Read to Your Dragonet

Studies show that children who regularly hear books read and see adults reading books have an easier time learning to read. If your children do not realize that books are fun and contain interesting ideas, they will be less motivated to learn how to read and write. Children who do not learn to read and write have difficulty succeeding in school and at life.

Even infants can enjoy books. You can check baby board books out of the library. Your baby will enjoy sitting on your lap as you read the words and point to the brightly colored pictures. If your baby wants to chew on the book, that's OK too.

Toddlers and pre-schoolers should understand how to hold a book (right side up) and how to turn the pages (left to right in English). Even if they're not ready to read, you can help your child prepare for school by teaching them how to talk about the stories they've heard. Pre-schoolers should be able to tell you something about character, setting, conflict, and resolution. After reading a story, prompt your child to tell you who the story was about, where it happened, what the problem was, and how it was solved.

If your grade-school child has difficulty learning to read, you can advocate for them. Your public school district is required to provide special help to kids with learning disabilities. If you suspect your child has dyslexia or some other difficulty in recognizing words, you may have to fight for your child's rights. Your child has the right to be tested by the district to determine the level of his or her disability, and your child has the right to a qualified specialist who can understand the best way for your child to learn. Some districts may be reluctant to pay for the extra help your child needs. Don't give up! Make sure your child gets the help he or she deserves. In America, every child has a right to an education.

You can learn more about children's books at the American Library Association website. Your public library is a great place to introduce your children to books. They will have special programs and incentives for kids of all ages to love reading. In most systems children are entitled to their own library cards from the time they are old enough to write their own names. It's a great way to teach responsibility as well as foster a lifelong love of learning and books.

If you can't get to the library, but you have an Internet connection, you can find many full-text books on-line. For adults, Project Gutenberg offers thousands of full-text books you can download for free.